The Stanley Law Offices

It is a difficult enough decision to put a parent or loved one into a nursing home. On top of all the other considerations on where to place them, you also have to watch for potential nursing home abuse, which is on the rise. Many nursing home residents are easy prey for people with abusive personalities who take advantage of the poor employment screening practices of many nursing facilities.

Abuse can be verbal, physical, or sexual in nature and is sometimes difficult to detect. Many of the poor victims of abusive caregivers are unable to speak up about how they are mistreated. They either lack the communication skills to tell their family what is going on, or may not understand themselves what is happening. It is imperative for family members to recognize signs of possible abuse.

Potential areas of abuse include:

• Improper physical restraint
• Unexplained injuries
• Isolation
• Withholding medication
• Verbal, physical, and sexual abuse

Do not assume that abuse won't happen to your loved one. It is important to check up on them frequently, so that the administrator and staff know you are interested and will check up on your family member's care. Ask questions about how they're doing and examine them for signs of physical abuse. If there are any incident reports, be sure and look at them.

If you suspect abuse of a loved one in Pennsylvania or New York, please contact the medical malpractice lawyers at the Stanley Law Office to protect their rights.